Effect of ethanol on the formation and properties of a Cu–NbC composite

Copper (Cu), niobium (Nb) and graphite (C) powders were used as starting materials to produce an in-situ Cu–15 vol% NbC composite using mechanical alloying followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). A mixture of Cu, Nb and C powders was milled in an argon atmosphere for 30 h. Different amounts of ethanol were used to study the effect of the process control agent on the formation of NbC and the consequent properties of the Cu–NbC composite. The...